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Government extends My Health Record opt-out period

The Morrison government has backed down in the face of a likely Senate defeat and extended the My Health Record opt-out period until 31 January.

The period under which Australians can opt-out of the My Health Record system, which will create a summary of a person's key health information, was meant to expire later today.

Health minister Greg Hunt had until yesterday consistently argued against an extension despite the parliament not having time to consider and approve changes to the system recommended by a Senate committee.

However, the government relented after shadow health minister Catherine King said Labor would move to amend the enabling legislation in the Senate to extend the opt-out period by 12 months.

The government relented with the support of crossbenchers to extend the period by over two months.

The extension was confirmed as reports indicated the opt-out website administered by the Australian Digital Health Agency crashed for a period on Wednesday.